Relationships that heal : the perceived impact of peer support on recovery in mental health : a qualitative study

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative study is to gain an insight into the lived experience of Maltese peer support providers and the impact of their work on their sense of recovery. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with three participants (three females, one male) who provide support in their community to peers who experienced the same mental health problems as they did. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Five superordinate themes emerged from the study: a) Sharing personal experiences to help peers; b) Finding comfort in other people's experiences; c) Experiencing meaningful connections; d) Making sense of a difficult life event; and e) Encountering difficulties adjusting to role. The accounts of the participants largely show that supporting their peers was a challenging experience which impacted positively their sense of recovery. These and other findings are discussed in relation to literature on peer support. Recommendations for future research in this area and local practice are also given.